1832. The teeming, squalid streets of Paris. 

Beggars, urchins, prostitutes, students, etc.



BEGGARS

Look down and see the beggars at your feet

Look down and show some mercy if you can

Look down and see the sweepings of the street

Look down, look down,

Upon your fellow man!



GAVROCHE

'Ow do you do? My name's Gavroche.

These are my people. Here's my patch.

Not much to look at, nothing posh

Nothing that you'd call up to scratch.

This is my school, my high society

Here in the slums of Saint Michele

We live on crumbs of humble piety

Tough on the teeth, but what the hell!

Think you're poor?

Think you're free?

Follow me! Follow me!



BEGGARS

Look down and show some mercy if you can

Look down, look down, upon your fellow man!



(An old beggar woman finds a young prostitute occupying her pitch)



OLD BEGGAR WOMAN

What you think yer at?

Hanging round me pitch?

If you're new around here, girl

You've got a lot to learn!



YOUNG PROSTITUTE

Listen you old bat...

Crazy bloody witch...

'Least I give me customers

Some pleasure in return!



OLD BEGGAR WOMAN

I know what you give!

Give 'em all the pox!

Spread around your poison

Till they end up in a box.



PIMP

Leave the poor old cow,

Move it, Madeleine.

She used to be no better

Till the clap got to her brain.



BEGGARS

When's it gonna end?

When we gonna live?

Something's gotta happen now or

Something's gonna give

It'll come, it'll come, it'll come

It'll come, it'll come, it'll come



ENJOLRAS

Where the leaders of the land?

Where are the swells who run this show?



MARIUS

Only one man - and that's Lamarque

Speaks for these people here below.



BEGGARS

See our children fed

Help us in our shame

Something for a crust of bread

In Holy Jesus' name



URCHIN

In the Lord's Holy name.



BEGGARS

In his name, in his name, in his name...



MARIUS

Lamarque is ill and fading fast!

Won't last the week out, so they say.



ENJOLRAS

With all the anger in the land

How long before the judgement day?

Before we cut the fat ones down to size?

Before the barricades arise?



GAVROCHE

Watch out for old Thenardier

All of his family's on the make

Once ran a hash-house down the way

Bit of a swine and no mistake

He's got a gang

The bleeding layabout

Even his daughter does her share

That's Eponine, she knows her way about

Only a kid, but hard to scare

Do we care?

Not a cuss

Long live us.

Long live us!



BEGGARS

Look down and show some mercy if you can

Look down, look down upon your fellow man!